Distinctions between hedonic and eudaimonic well-being

Kopperud and colleagues present results from a day reconstruction study among Norwegian jobholders. The study suggests that hedonic and eudaimonic well-being can be studied by theoretical and empirical analysis of subjective feelings.

In this approach, pleasure is the hallmark of hedonism, and engagement serves as the core feeling of eudaimonia.

The research stream that I think most resembles eudaimonic well-being is in the area of 'human flourishing' which is thought to be a result of four key components: (a) goodness, indexed by happiness, satisfaction, and superior functioning; (b) generativity, indexed by broadened thought–action repertoires and behavioral flexibility; (c) growth, indexed by gains in enduring personal and social resources; and (d) resilience, indexed by survival and growth in the aftermath of adversity.

Another recent discussion of eudaimonic well-being defines this as "the essence of the two great
Greek imperatives: first, to ‘‘know thyself’’ (a phrase inscribed on the temple of Apollo at Delphi), and second, to ‘‘choose yourself’’ or ‘‘become what you are’’. " This article goes on to specify further the dimensions of psychological well-being as self-acceptance, purpose in life, autonomy, environmental mastery, positive relationships, and personal growth.

From this analysis it is clear that eudaimonic well-being goes far beyond engagement but also that this sense may be a rough approximation for environmental mastery, autonomy, generativity and so on.

In the study discussed the Day Reconstruction Method was used to investigate the assumption that overall life satisfaction predicts hedonic feelings but not eudaimonic feelings during a workday. Perceived job control was hypothesized to predict eudaimonic feelings but not hedonic feelings. Questionnaire data from 120 Norwegian jobholders were analyzed, providing support for the hypothesis. Moreover, pleasure was found to be relatively unrelated to engagement, and perceived control was basically unrelated to life satisfaction. The results are discussed against the background that hedonism and eudaimonia are two independent parts of a multidimensional concept of well-being.

Kopperud et al (2008)